The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-02-18
The Story Of a Wreck.
Thrilling and Romantic Account Of
. Mutiny at Sea.
BY w, CLARK RUSSELL.
CHAPTER XVIII.-CONrINUKD.

the wheel to the former, and taking the
brandy, succeeded in introducing some
into her mouth. BY dint of this, and
chatting her hands and moistening her
forehead. restored her to conscious
ness. then. with my arm supporting
her, helped her into the cuddy; but did
not stay an instant after this, for there
was plenty of work to be done on deck;
and though We had escaped one peril.
yet here we might be running head
long into another, for the ship was I'M
der full sail; we had but three men to
work her. not counting Cornish, of
whose willingness or capacity to work
after his rough handling as yet knew
nothing. The glass stood low, and if
gale should spring up and catch us as
we were. it was fifty to one If the ship
did not go to the bottom.
We decided TO shorten sail at once;
the steward was instructed to take the
helm, although he protested he knew
nothing about steering. He was given
some simple directions, and we left him
in the attitude of a cockney c,inging to
the wheel for dear life.
Cornish Law al this time like a bum
die against the rail. When he saw us
he begged that we would either loose
the rope with which he was bound or
Kill him. He said he was being cut in
halves, and it was plainly to- be seen
that he was suffering terrible agony.
We could not well do without his
services and had decided to avail our
selves of them. But before releasing
him we pretended to reflect and to dis
cuss the matter very gravely. Finally
we told him We had decided to give
him a trial and warned him that at the
first symptom of treachery on his part
he would be shot down like Il dog.
He was speedily liberated and en-
pressed his thanks in the warmest
terms.
The next thing we undertook was to
get the port quarter-boat on board. to
replace the one which had been stove
by the carpenter. This only occupied
4 few minutes, and we soon had it
under the davits with both falls
hooked. Ii Wa: full of provisions and
water, 100 precious for lis to lose.
The body of one of the dead mutineprs
remained in it but WAS promptly
thrown overheard by the boatswain
As we finished this job Miss Robert
son came from her cabin and insisted
upon resuming her place at the wheel
The steward resigned the responsible
place with alacrity.
l asked Cornish if he was able to
work aloft and ne assured me that he
was. As the glass was very low we
addressed ourselves at once to taking
IN sail.
I'VE shall be able to get the sails Off
her said the boatswain. land the lib
and staysails, but | don't know how
were going to furi the main-sail, and
it'll take lis all night to reef the top
sails
I'VE must work all night" I an
severed. ''ani do what we can. just
tell me, while l pass this gasket, how
YOU managed in the hold. >
Why" he answered. "you know
took kind o crow-bar down with
me. and reckoned on splitiin' open
the head of the fust chap as should
drop through the forc-scuttle. Bat.
turnin' 1t over in my mind. | thought
ii 'ud be dangerous to kill the Teller. rs
his mates might take il into their heads
TO wait for him. And so determined
to hide myself when i hecrd the cove
comm. ard stand ly to plug up the
holes arter he wur gone.
Here he discharged some tobacco
Juice from his mou,h, and dried his
lips on the sail.
Merry well: I had my knife with
me an a box @ matches, and VERY
useful they wos. | made = bit OF q
Hare by combinG ont strand of yarns
and settin' fire to it, and found wot
was more pleasin' to my eve than had
] come across a iiye-pun note-I mean
spare broomstick. which l found
knocking about in the coal-hole: and l
cut ii up in pieces and pointed EN-
ready 10 sarvc. | knew whoever nd
come would use an anger. and know d
the size hole it 'uG cut; and by and by
but the Lord knows how long itwere
-afore it happened-I hears some one
drop down the forescuttle and strike i
match and light a bit o candie-eId. |
got behind the bulkhead, where there
was 4 plank ont, and see the carpen-
ter wurking away with his auger. blow
in and sweatin like any respectable
hartizan earnin' of honest wages. BY
and by the water comes rushin' in;
and then he bores another hole and the
water comes through that; and then
he bOres another hole, artcr which he
blows out his candle and goes away.
scramblin' up on the deck. My fingers
guivered to give him one for hiSSeif
with the end o NV crowbar over the
back of his head However, no sooner
did he clear out than struck Il match,
fits in the bits of broOmstick, and stops
the leaks As neatly as he made EN-. l
thought they'd hear me drivin' them
plugs in. and that was all was afraid
of But the ships none the worse for
them holes. She's Is tight as ever she
wos; an | reckon if she gets no more
plugs. she won't be in hurry TO sinh"
i laughed as VIC shook hands heartily.
CHAPTER NIX.
Cornish had slowed the mizzen-
royal by the time we had reached the
deck. and when ne joined us we
clewed up the foretop-gallant sail. so
that we might hand that sail when he
had done with the royal
] found this man quite civil and very
willing, and in my opinion he spoke
honestly when he declared that he had
rather be with us than in the long
boat
hen we reached the deck we were
rather scant of breath. But. as it
threatened TO blow gale. it was adj
visable that we do all we could toward
shortening sail before it began. For
three men. even though working for
their lives, would be useless aloft